JHA rules in California
California requires every construction employer to have a written Injury and Illness Prevention Program and a Code of Safe Practices posted at each job, plus crew toolbox meetings at least every 10 working days. Deep trenches and tall structures need a Cal/OSHA permit before work starts, and serious injuries must be reported within 8 hours.
What is different in California
- Written Injury and Illness Prevention Program (T8 1509(a), 3203): a responsible person, a compliance system, communication, hazard inspections, accident investigation, correcting hazards and training. Keep inspection and training records at least 1 year.
- A written Code of Safe Practices, based on Plate A-3, must be posted conspicuously at each job site office or given to each supervisor (T8 1509(b), (c)).
- Supervisors hold toolbox or tailgate safety meetings with their crews at least every 10 working days (T8 1509(e)).
- A Cal/OSHA permit is needed before: trenches or excavations 5 ft or deeper that a person enters; scaffolding, vertical shoring or falsework over 36 ft; demolition of a structure over 36 ft; steel, framing, decking, curtain wall or precast erection on a structure over 36 ft; and tower crane erection, climbing or dismantling (T8 341).
- Fall protection is required where a fall from the perimeter of a structure is more than 7.5 ft, on roofs steeper than 7:12, and on other surfaces steeper than 40 degrees (T8 1670).
- Outdoor heat (T8 3395): shade must be up when it is over 80 F, high heat procedures apply at 95 F (construction is a listed industry), 1 quart of water per worker per hour, and close watch on new workers for their first 14 days. The written heat plan must be in English and the language most of the crew speaks.
- Indoor heat (T8 3396) applies at 82 F, with full assessment and controls at 87 F (or 82 F with restrictive clothing or radiant heat), and a written plan.
The law and the regulator
- Title 8 CCR 1509: Construction Injury and Illness Prevention Program
- Title 8 CCR 3203: Injury and Illness Prevention Program
- Title 8 CCR 341: Permit requirements
- Title 8 CCR 342: Reporting work-connected injuries
- Title 8 CCR 1670: Personal fall arrest, restraint and positioning
- Title 8 CCR 3395: Heat illness prevention (outdoor)
- Title 8 CCR 3396: Heat illness prevention (indoor)
Regulator: Cal/OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety and Health).
What you must notify
- Serious injury or illness, or death: report to Cal/OSHA immediately, which means within 8 hours (24 hours only if the employer can show exigent circumstances) (T8 342). Serious means hospital admission for more than observation, an amputation, loss of an eye, or serious permanent disfigurement (T8 330(h)).
- Permit work: annual permit holders must notify Cal/OSHA before starting permit required work at each new site, and no permit work may start before the permit is issued (T8 341).